Cook the rice according to its package. I like to use the microwaveable pouches available at Trader Joe’s to save time. Plus, it yields PERFECTLY cooked rice in 3 minutes.

You will need two frying pans on the go at once. Place some coconut oil in both pans.

In one frying pan, add the garlic, and cook until fragrant. Place the kale and spinach in and saute in the pan till just soft. You want it to just start to pop in green color. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange on your plate/bowl.

In your other pan, place your halloumi in and turn once it become golden and soft. Keep the halloumi off to one side on the pan, and use the other side to fry your egg.

Arrange your bowl, green mix on the bottom egg and halloumi, I serve mine with a wedge of lemon and avocado on the side.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain then set aside.

Meanwhile, heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot but not smoking, add the shallots and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring often and being careful as the oil may spatter a bit at the beginning.

Add mushrooms and saute until they begin to shrink and release some of their liquid, 3 minutes. Add brussels sprouts then turn heat up to medium-high, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until brussels sprouts are cooked but still have a tiny bit of bite, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic then saute for 30 more seconds. Add veggie broth then simmer until reduced by half, 3-4 minutes.

Stir in chopped dill, ghee and juice from 1/2 lemon. Taste then add salt, pepper, and/or lemon juice and then combine mixture with pasta and stir well. Scoop pasta into bowls then top with freshly grated romano cheese.

It’s summertime and the temperatures are still astronomically high in the Valley of the Sun. I’m not joking… we are supposed to hit 113° this weekend. That’s why I decided to do a healthy take on a classic summertime treat: Ice cream. This vegan and gluten-free recipe is super simple to make, and you don’t need to have an ice cream maker, heavy cream, sugar and all that jazz – all you need are 2 ripe bananas and a food processor or blender. I topped my ice cream with cacao nibs, but I will leave it up to you whether you want to have your ice cream dressed to the nines or not.

Start by peeling the bananas and cutting them into even coins. (When bananas are ripe, the peel may stick to the fruit, so make sure you remove leftover peel to prevent any bitterness in your ice cream.)

Place the coins in a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place them in the freezer overnight.

Place the frozen banana slices in the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. This process will take a while and you’ll have to scrape down the side of your food processor multiple times with a spatula.

The bananas will first become very crumbly, then they will look like oatmeal, but you’ll eventually end up with a very soft and creamy mixture.

At this point, place back in the glass bowl and in the freezer for just about an hour. You can of course always enjoy it right away if you like very soft ice cream. I wanted to eat mine immediately, so it was pretty soft…

To say that dealing with anxiety is a challenge is quite an understatement. It can create feelings of fear, panic, decreased self-esteem, worry and defeat. I personally was diagnosed with anxiety a few years ago – I know that it’s painful, difficult and downright frustrating to not “be in control” of your thoughts and your actions. Instead, you fell consumed by your endless thoughts and worries.

As a certified yoga instructor and a dedicated student of the practice, I have witnessed how yoga can help ease anxiety, depression, panic attacks and even PTSD.

The beauty of yoga is that it is for everyone. You don’t need a studio or fancy yoga gear to practice these poses – all you need is space and the willingness to allow yoga into your heart and mind. Along with guidance from a medical professional, you can also find a release from that grip that anxiety has over you through these four asanas that I find to be the most effective in managing anxiety.

1. Uttana Shishosana/Extended Puppy Pose: This invigorating inversion is one of those poses that requires minimal effort but still gives you a great, relaxing stretch that offers endless benefits to both the body and the mind. Whether you utilize this pose in the beginning of your practice or as a closer, the deep stretch in your shoulders and your spine triggers the mind to slow down and enjoy the gentle movement you are giving your body.

The method: Begin on all fours (tabletop pose) with a straight, neutral spine – hands are shoulders-width distance apart, shoulders are over the wrists, hips are over the knees, knees are in line with the wrists and the tops of your feet are on the floor. As you inhale, walk your hands forward as your chest drops to the floor and your hips reach back toward your heels. This pose has a mini backbend in it, so you should feel your shoulder blades widening and releasing any tension that tends to build up in that area. If it’s available to you, drop your forehead to the floor and allow your neck to relax. With every exhale, press deeper into your hands. Hold this pose for 30 seconds to one minute. Since extended puppy pose reverses the blood flow, slowly exit this pose to prevent dizziness/lightheadedness.

Tip: If bringing the forehead to the floor is creating more pain than pleasure, try putting a bolster or a folded blanket under your forehead to ease any unwanted pressure.

2. Salamba Sirsasana/Supported Headstand: Headstand is another pose that relieves anxiety by reversing the blood flow and by requiring you to stay present through focusing on your breath and muscle engagement in that moment. Don’t let this pose scare you; it may look hard, but it is actually attainable for all yogi levels.

The method: If your mat is on the thin side, use a blanket for additional head support. Kneel on the floor while crossing your arms over chest, allowing the right hand to rest on your left shoulder, and your left hand on your right shoulder. Keeping that connection, allow your body to hinge forward, propping your torso up on your elbows. Doing this step will force your elbows to remain shoulder-width distance and will place your elbows exactly where they need to be on your mat. Now, release your hands from the shoulders and allow them to lay parallel to one another on the mat and lace your fingers together, but keep your palms open. While pressing down on your forearms and your wrists, roll your upper arms slightly outward and come up on to the tips of your toes. As you tip-toe forward, bring the crown of your head to the floor, allowing the back of your head to nestle into your palms.

Keep walking your toes up with your heels elevated until you feel your hips are stacked over your shoulders. Remember to keep your quads active in this pose and to keep your torso long and firm in this set-up. Kick both knees up at the same; this may cause you to bend your knees while you kick up – and that is okay! Find your balance while your thighs are perpendicular to the floor by firming the tailbone against the back of the pelvis. Spiral your thighs inward and keep engagement in your toes (think “Barbie Toe”) and press the heels toward the ceiling, straightening into the knees. You should be able to draw one straight line from the crown of your head to the arches of your feet.

You can hold this pose anywhere from five seconds to five minutes. Exit the pose on an exhalation while keeping the shoulders firm and hips active, allowing the feet to lightly hit the floor at the same time.

Tip: If this is your first time trying headstand, or you would like some additional support, try setting up against a wall, allowing your feet to lightly rest against it while you’re inverted.

The method: Stand with your feet hips-width distance, and shift your weight into your left leg. Bend your right knee and allow the outside edge of that foot to rest on your left hip bone. If this feels too intense, or your hips don’t allow half lotus, place the sole of your left foot on the inside of your left thigh, calf or ankle with your toes pointing to the ground – whichever feels more comfortable. Never allow your foot to rest against the knee, doing so will cause more harm than good further down the line. This version is simply called Vrksasana or Tree Pose.

I like to tell my students to focus on an object in front of them that isn’t moving, like a block, the top of their mat or by focusing on the point where the wall meets the floor. This will help keep your balance and force you to stay in the moment. Now, engage your core and bring your hands into prayer pose by your heart, known as Anjali Mudra or the Salutation Seal. Hold this pose for up to one minute. Repeat on the left side.

Tip: If you are having trouble keeping your balance in this pose, try shifting your weight into your big toe on your standing foot.

4. Janu Sirsasana/Head-to-Knee Forward Bend: One of the benefits of forward bending is reducing tension in the body and the mind. This pose is extremely effective in calming the brain which aids in relieving mild depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

The method: Start with both of your legs extended in front of you, keeping the toes engaged (again – think “Barbie Toe”). On an inhale, draw your right knee into your chest, forcing your right foot to come off the ground and cradle it. On an exhale, open the knee to the right, allowing the sole of your foot to rest against the inside of your left thigh, creating 90° angle from your right knee to your left foot. If you can open your angle to wider than 90°, go ahead and do it. Extend your arms overhead, and fold over your straight left leg on an exhale. You can hold this pose anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes. Repeat on the other side.

Tip: To keep your hips square as you are bending in this pose, reach towards the outside edge of the foot on your straight leg with the opposite hand, and then fold forward.

Ever since I started teaching yoga, it has become significantly harder to prepare creative meals every night. In fact, it’s rare that I get home before 8:30 each night – which makes quick, wholesome meals a MUST. My dinner of choice: SCRAMBLED EGGS. Extremely versatile, I like pack my scrambles full of produce to bulk it up and to give the nutrition factor a little boost. So I encourage you try out this version – you’ll get a nice, steaming bowl of scrambled eggs to enjoy, and then a full, warm belly that will help you settle in for the night. Plus there is minimal clean-up afterward.🙂

Crack your eggs into a mason jar, add water, salt and pepper. Screw on the lid and give the eggs a little shake. Set aside.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and melt the coconut oil/ghee. Cook the onions for several minutes, until golden brown. Add the tomatoes and spinach and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir to begin to wilt the spinach, then pour in the eggs.

Reduce the heat to low and stir, cooking slowly, until soft curds form. Add the cheese and continue stirring/folding until the eggs are cooked.

I like to top my eggs with Frank’s Red Hot, but any hot sauce will do!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile in a cast-iron skillet, saute the onion and garlic in a tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat. After about 3 minutes add the remaining oil and your choice of vegetables. Start with the denser vegetables like then add in the other veggies, except the tomatoes. Saute the vegetables over medium heat for about 5 minutes (I like mine still crisp). Season the vegetables with salt and herbs.

Whisk the eggs together then pour the eggs over the vegetables, making sure they spread evenly over the veggies.

Scatter tomatoes over the top of the egg and veggie mixture.

Now place the saute pan in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or you can continue to cook over the stove on medium low for 15-20 minutes.